tonight, bracing for a major storm. set to slam the east tonight, and right into tomorrow morning's commute. from d.c. to philly, from new york city to boston. 120 million americans affected already. an out of control driver slamming into police. paramedics stuck, forced to get out and push a patient on a gurney instead. ginger zee has the track and the new timing tonight. dueling rallies tonight. president trump at the border, saying el paso was crime-ridden until they built a wall. beto o'rourke says that's not true. he's planning his own rally tonight. is he planning a run? the urgent manhunt tonight, and this surveillance. authorities say this disbarred lawyer is armed and dangerous. he was supposed to report to jail. tonight, they say he's now killed his own mother and has cut off his ankle monitor. the major decision tonight in the case of the high school student convicted after sending a text to her boyfriend, urging

him to kill himself. he committed suicide. tonight, what the court has now decided. the new turn this evening involving amazon ceo jeff bezos and "the national enquirer," after he claims he was blackmailed with those compromising photos. and target responding tonight, amid reports their app on your phone shows one price, but once you're in the store, some prices on your phone suddenly go up. what they're saying tonight. and the man i met today on his 100th birthday. not just happy birthday, why you'll want to say thank you, too. good evening and it's great to start another week with all of you at home. and we begin tonight with that major winter storm. 35 states under alerts tonight. the east set to get hit right during tomorrow morning's commute. snow, ice and rain. this has been coast to coast already. a record february snow in seattle, and there is more on the way for them, too. a power line heavy with snow

falling on a car in sonora, california, bursting into flames. you see it there. a sheriff's car in waterloo, iowa, slammed by a driver who loses control. a plane skidding off a runway and across a road. this happened in richmond, indiana. and look at the track tonight. that storm on the move right now, set to hit major cities overnight and into tomorrow morning. we have the timing for you right here tonight. and abc's alex perez is in chicago. >> reporter: tonight, a white-knuckle commute for millions as a major winter storm moves east. >> my god. >> reporter: ice-coated roads triggering multiple pileups in wisconsin. watch as a semi runs a red light and strikes a police suv near green bay. another out of control driver slamming this police cruiser outside waterloo, iowa. thankfully, no one was hurt. in the st. louis area, vehicle after vehicle losing control on this icy highway ramp. firefighters ditching their ambulance on an icy road, wheeling this patient to the

hospital. on i-80 in western pennsylvania, two high school students killed when the suv they were riding in struck a semi. more than 600 flights canceled since saturday at seattle's airport. schools closed after up to two feet of snow buried parts of washington state. >> starting to feel a little like groundhog day. >> reporter: this farmer pulling a state trooper out of a drift in pascoe. and in portland, this tanker truck sliding on an icy bridge, pinning that suv. firefighters helping the driver escape. and david, here in chicago, we are expecting more snow tonight. depending on where you are, people are dealing with snow, rain and even sleet. the morning commute is expected to be a nightmare from minneapolis all the way to new york city. david? >> that's right. safe driving tomorrow morning. take it slow. alex perez, our thanks to you tonight. let's get right to chief meteorologist ginger zee, she's got the timing for us and the new track just in tonight. hi, ginger. >> reporter: hi, david. the dangerous flash flooding already reported in northeast arkansas.

more than five inches of rain. so, there are flood watches from there, through indianapolis to cincinnati and pittsburgh. but let's talk about the frozen precipitation part of this storm, from wisconsin to new england, we're under winter storm warnings because of that warm front. it's going to move through chicago tonight, as alex just pointed out. along interstate 80 tomorrow. it starts as snow, check out the timing. 7:00 a.m., new york city. philadelphia, snow. but snow transitions to ice, and that's where i'm concerned about it becoming extra dangerous on the roads for the afternoon commute. by the evening, it all transitions to rain, david, for most folks from boston back down to new york here. >> a tricky day tomorrow. all right, ginger, you'll be tracking it straight through "gma." in the meantime, we turn next to dueling rallies tonight. president trump versus a man who might soon be running against him, beto o'rourke. all of this over the border wall, and could this debate shut down the government again in a matter of days? abc's senior white house correspondent cecilia vega is in el paso, texas, tonight with the president. >> reporter: president trump

tonight heading to the border, asked if the government will shut down on friday, he says, it's up to the democrats. >> we're up against people that want to allow criminals into our society. now you explain that one. >> reporter: lawmakers are now at an impasse. democrats want to limit the number of undocumented immigrants detained by i.c.e., saying the focus should be on hardened criminals. republicans say that would handcuff the agency. and no agreement yet on the president's border wall. tonight, he's hoping to make an example out of el paso, texas. >> the border city of el paso, texas, used to have extremely high rates of violent crime. now, immediately upon its building, with a powerful barrier in place, el paso is one of the safest cities. >> reporter: but it's not true. el paso has never been one of the most dangerous cities in the country. it had a low crime rate well

before its border fence went up. dee margo is el paso's mayor, a republican. >> we are the safest city in the nation, according to fbi statistics, but it's not as a result of the border fence. >> reporter: what is the message from el paso to president trump? >> we need to control our borders, but there are other ways to do it, besides just focusing on that single physical barrier. >> reporter: also joining in the opposition, former congressman and potential 2020 rival, el paso native beto o'rourke. >> we will meet lies and hate with the truth. >> reporter: he's headlining an anti-trump rally tonight, the same time as the president's, about a half mile away. >> all right, cecilia vega joins us live tonight from el paso, texas, and cecilia, the clock, of course, is ticking until yet another possible government shutdown. we're thinking about the 800,000 american workers tonight, wondering, is this going to happen all over again? the white house chief of staff was asked, is a shutdown off the table, he said, the answer is no. so, the bottom line tonight, cecilia, what are you learning

from your sources? where do things stand? >> reporter: well, david, perhaps a sign of some progress, those negotiators now say they are working in good faith on both sides to try to reach a deal. they're going to be working into the evening, but there is still no agreement on money for border security. but david, that is not going to stop the president from trying to sell his border wall here in el paso tonight. david? >> cecilia vega, thank you. we're going to turn next to the other news tonight, and to the hunt for a fugitive, wanted in a ruthless murder. richard merritt last seen at a georgia gas station. he was supposed to report to prison for a nonviolent charge, but instead, police tonight say he took off his ankle monitor and has killed his own mother. here's abc's erielle reshef. >> reporter: tonight, that urgent nationwide manhunt for richard merritt, who police say is an armed and dangerous killer. >> once you kill anyone, it's easier for you to kill someone else, especially if you kill your own mother. >> reporter: merritt was due to report to jail on february 1st. the now disbarred attorney sentenced to 15 years behind bars for elder exploitation and

stealing from his clients. instead, police say he cut off his ankle monitor, stabbed his own mother to death and may have taken off in her 2009 lexus. >> i would look him in the eye and i would say, you need to man up and turn yourself in. >> reporter: authorities releasing this surveillance image of merritt at a gas station outside atlanta. a former client who testified against merritt wishing not to be identified now fearing he could be out for revenge. >> there's somebody out there who has nothing to lose and they are the most dangerous people. >> reporter: david, the d.a. says merritt was allowed to wear that ankle monitor because he was originally convicted of nonviolent crimes. he's now charged with murder and faces the death penalty if convicted. david? >> erielle reshef tonight. erielle, thank you. and next here, to the battle between the richest man in the world and the owners of "the national enquirer." and tonight here, a new turn. amazon ceo jeff bezos accusing "the national enquirer" of

extortion and bribery, saying they threatened him with compromising photos. tonight here, possible word, where those images came from. here's abc's amy robach. >> reporter: tonight, new questions about just who leaked texts and photos between the world's richest man, jeff bezos, the founder of amazon, and his reported girlfriend, lauren sanchez. >> the story was given to "the national enquirer" by a reliable source, it was a source that was well-known to both mr. bezos and miss sanchez. >> reporter: "the national enquirer" refusing to identify the source, but "the daily beast" reports it was sanchez's own brother, michael, a vocal supporter of president trump. in his bombshell blog post, bezos accused the publication of threatening to release explicit photos unless he stopped his investigation into how "the enquirer" got the photos and publicly declare he has no knowledge or basis the coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces. the attorney for the chairman of the tabloid's parent company, david pecker, a long-time friend

of the president, denying those allegations in an interview with george. >> jeff bezos says extortion, blackmail. >> it absolutely is not extortion and not blackmail. >> reporter: as for sanchez's brother, he's denied he was involved in exposing his sister's affair, but tells "the washington post," which is owned by bezos, "the enquirer" set out to do a takedown to make trump happy, an allegation "the national enquirer" has denied. >> and amy is with us now. always great to have you here. the focus tonight might be on who leaked the text messages, the photos to "the national enquirer." the other major question in this case is whether or not federal prosecutors are still looking into what bezos' claims are here. >> reporter: yeah, and the answer to that question is, they are. federal prosecutors reviewing bezos' accusations of extortion and blackmail. they are going to look at every communication between the two sides to determine whether "the national enquirer" violated the immunity deal they already have with prosecutors by committing a crime, david. >> amy robach with us on a monday night. amy, thank you. we're going to turn next tonight to the candidates who want to take on president trump

in 2020. the list growing. two major names officially announcing over the weekend, and quickly taking aim at the president. here's abc's mary bruce. >> reporter: in the middle of a minnesota snowstorm -- >> we don't let a little snow stop us. >> reporter: -- senator amy klobuchar promising her moderate politics and midwestern roots will win over key states that handed donald trump the white house. >> i don't have a political machine. i don't come from money. but what i do have is this -- i have grit. >> reporter: on "good morning america," klobuchar asked about recent reports that she's a tough boss. >> what do you think is fair about that criticism and what have you learned from it? >> well, first of all, i love my staff. i am tough, i push people, that is true. but my point is, is that i have high expectations for myself, i have high expectations for the people that work for me, and i have high expectations for this country. >> reporter: in massachusetts, senator elizabeth warren made it

official this weekend with a call to action. >> start asking the people who have gained the most from our country to pay their fair share. >> reporter: she's already tangling with trump. >> by the time we get to 2020, donald trump may not even be president. he may not even be a free person. >> reporter: five women in congress are now running. one of them, senator kamala harris, discussing her support for legalizing marijuana and giving an answer that was once considered controversial. >> have you ever smoked? >> i have. >> okay. and -- >> and i inhaled, i did inhale. >> okay. >> it was a long time ago. but yes. listen, i think that it gives a lot of people joy and we need more joy. >> we need more joy in this world. >> and mary bruce with us live tonight from washington. mary, a lot of eyes on former vice president joe biden, waiting for word from him

whether he will run, and something new on his schedule tonight? >> reporter: well, david, biden says he's still running the traps on this, and will have an announcement soon. and now there's a new public event on his schedule later this month, it's being billed as a discussion on the future of american politics. david, we'll be listening closely. >> we will. mary bruce, live in washington. thank you, mary. there's an apology tonight from freshman democratic representative ilhan omar. she has, quote, unequivocally apologized for tweets that were considered anti-semitic. the minnesota congresswoman was fiercely criticized by members of both parties, including a stern rebuke from house speaker nancy pelosi, after suggesting that support for israel was fueled by money from a lobbying group. we move on tonight, and to maria butina, in her own words. the young russian woman who pleaded guilty as ato acting asa russian agent. butina is speaking out from behind bars. and we have new images here from

the day of her fbi raid when they showed up at her door. abc's kyra phillips on this again tonight. >> reporter: this is the voice of maria butina, who tonight denies she's a russian spy. >> if i would be a big russian spy, you would never see me in public. i mean, i would be the most unseen person on earth. >> reporter: she's speaking out for the first time against charges she operated covertly for the kremlin. in prison since her july arrest, spending time in solitary confinement. >> i am locked for 22 hours, i get two hours at night to do everything including shower. >> reporter: she complains her character came under attack. this video emerging of her recording a duet with a gop operative after they became romantically involved. ♪ beauty and the beast >> being called a whore, it's very hard. it's just so much pain for the family. >> reporter: the interviews were conducted by author jim bamford for a story in "the new republic." butina describing the fbi raid. >> huge, i mean, very loud. >> did they yell "fbi", or --

>> yeah, yeah, and they told me, "fbi search warrant." so, i opened the door. i was completely shocked. i was baking banana bread. >> reporter: butina cut a deal, eventually pleading guilty to conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. now, federal prosecutors say she's cooperating. >> truth is my best defender here. >> and kyra is with us now, you've talked to her before, off the record, so, why do this interview? why now? >> reporter: that's right. i've met with her in jail twice. she clearly wants to get her story out there, clear her name and get back home to russia. >> all right, kyra phillips tonight. kyra, good to have you. there is other news we're following tonight, and denver teachers have walked off the job. they did so this morning. the latest in a national wave of teacher strikes. all 160 public schools have remained open today, though with substitutes. teachers say their pay isn't keeping up with the cost of living. talks are set to resume tomorrow. tonight, the irs is reporting the average tax refunds this year are down 8% from last year. it appears the changes in deductions under the new tax laws may be the reason why. one watchdog group saying more

than 30 million americans may not have withheld enough from their paychecks. tonight, the irs is maintaining refunds this year should end up consistent with past years. there is still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this monday. the major decision in the case of the convicted high school student. you'll remember this case. she sent a text to her boyfriend, urging him to kill himself. he committed suicide. well, tonight, what the court has now decided. more on that. the frightening crash, a pickup truck slamming into a huge crowd. dozens of good samaritans working to lift the truck off some of the victims. and tonight, the consumer alert. the major retailer now responding this evening amid reports their app on your phone shows one price, but that once you're in the store, some prices on your phone suddenly go up? what they're now saying tonight. a lot more news ahead. yeah, have fun! thanks to you, we will. aw, stop. this is why voya helps reach today's goals... all while helping you to and through retirement. um, you guys are just going for a week, right?

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>> reporter: nearly five years after conrad roy iii committed suicide in his truck, the woman who urged him to do it is going to prison. >> miss carter will now be taken into custody. >> reporter: michelle carter showing no emotion as she was led away to begin a 15-month sentence after the highest court in massachusetts upheld her conviction. carter was 17 and roy 18 when he took his own life by filling his truck with carbon monoxide in 2014. in dozens of text messages revealed at trial, carter pushed roy to end his life and chastised him when he hesitated. when roy texted her saying, "i'm freaking out again, i'm overthinking." carter responded, "i thought you wanted to do this. the time is right and you're ready. you just need to do it." and when roy's truck was filling with carbon monoxide and he got out, she called him and convinced him to go back in. and david, carter's defense attorney says that legally, this case is not over, and that they fully intend to file an appeal with the u.s. supreme court. david? >> gio, thank you.

when we come back, the major retailer responding tonight. did some prices on their app suddenly go up when they got you into their store? and the pickup truck right into a crowd. in a moment. in ent. crowd. in a moment. in a moment. tal vibration thera. ( ♪ ) (glass breaking) (gasp) not cool. freezing away fat cells with coolsculpting? now that's cool! coolsculpting safely freezes and removes fat cells with little or no downtime and no surgery. results and patient experience may vary. some common side effects include temporary numbness, discomfort, and swelling. ask your doctor if coolsculpting is right for you and visit coolsculpting.com today for your chance to win a free treatment. (music blaring) for your chance to win a free treatment. welcome to monowi, nebraska, population one. me. i'm mayor, secretary, treasurer. every decision you have to make yourself. four out of five women will become solely responsible for their finances. i like the independence and every woman should have that, you know?

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to the index, and new video of the alleged dui crash in fullerton, california. the driver slamming his pickup truck right into a crowd, at least ten people hit. the driver is under arrest. some of the injuries are critical. target tonight says it is now updating its shopping app

after a news report says the phone app raised some of its prices once you walk into the store. target says the app will list both online and inin-store prices. and celebrating women at the grammys. dolly parton among them. ♪ jolene ♪ jolene ♪ jolene >> that was incredible. parton was honored with a tribute. grammy host alicia keys playing two pianos at the same time last night. and michelle obama making a surprise appearance, praising the importance of music in all its forms. when we come back here tonight, the man i met today. why you'll want to say happy birthday and thank you. tonight, the man i met today. why you'll want to say happy birthday and thank you. ar great, you turned a family recipe into a brewing empire before prohibition took it all away. i promised our family i'd find your lost recipe. by tracing our history on ancestry, i found the one person who still had it. now, i'm brewing our legacy back to life.

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finally tonight here, america strong. the world war ii veteran who turned 100 today and his wish. corporal sidney walton enlisted on march 4th, 1941, nine months before pearl harbor. he served in the u.s. army, 34th infantry, 8th division. that's him at the top. he served during the entire war, returned home and raised a family. today, sidney turned 100. he's visiting all 50 states, hoping americans might want to meet a world war ii veteran. we sure did. armed with a photo from his early days in the army. who is this handsome devil? >> me. >> reporter: i figured as much. we asked sidney about turning 100. he told us he wants another 100 more. what does turning 100 mean for you? >> oh, i'd like another 100 years to go by. >> reporter: another 100 years to go? ♪ for he's a jolly good fellow >> reporter: and his birthday, he was honored right here in the city where he was born, raised

in brooklyn, moved to the south bronx. the new york city department of veterans services helping him celebrate. meeting veterans who told sidney thank you. >> it's men like you that set the bar for us. >> reporter: u.s. navy veteran jason loughran, who served in afghanistan. >> it's really a great honor to shake someone's hand like his. >> reporter: veteran tommy lloyd, a u.s. army specialist. >> to have a man of sidney's caliber, we stood on their shoulders. >> reporter: and before he left, we had a small token of thanks. we're going to send you home with this, because you are made in america. you are what america is. >> you're right. >> reporter: i know i'm right on that one. congratulations. thank you for your service. >> thank you. >> reporter: happy birthday. >> thank you. >> and that's why i love my job. we salute you, sidney. you can follow him at gosidneygo.com. go sidney. i'm david muir.

major changes for the most widespread transit in the bay area. building a better bay area. >> i'm spencer christian. there is a strong storm about to link up. i'll have the details in my accuweather forecast. >> the petting zoo, culprits have four legs and now they're in dust difficult. >> announcer: live where you live, this is abc7 news. >> starting today and for the next three years, bart is changing its schedule from mornings, nights and weekends. it's a short-term inconvenience meant to provide long-term safety benefits before the next big earthquake hits the bay area. good evening, thanks for joining us. i'm dan ashley. >> and i'm alma daetz. we look for ways to improve our quality of life. it's bart week. >> bart is our most widely used transit system for hundreds of thousands of bay area residents. bart is the cheapest, fastest and most reliable form of mass transportation. >> it really is. this map from blink tag, inc.,

shows where bart trains are right now in real time. through friday, abc7 news will be focusing on how bart is performing for the people who depend on it every single day. >> today was a bit rough. it was the first day bart changed its start time from 4:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. abc7 news reporter wayne freedman shows you how that went. >> reporter: you're looking at the calm after the storm. oakland's 19th street bart station at noon, after normalcy returned. >> you heard about the change in schedule? >> i just was reading that. >> reporter: a few hours earlier commuters lived it. >> do you know when the first eastbound train hits embarcadero? >> reporter: oh, say do you see before the dawn's early light a fleet of buses where they used to be, bart trains. bart warned us about the retrofit. >> seismic standards have changed since the bart system was first built and opened in 1972. >> it is a 3 1/2 year, $313 million project. to get that work finished four months earlier, bart will begin service one hour later at 5